Measuring tape



June 15, 1948. G. F. PINSUTI 2,443,476

MEASURING TAPE Original Filed May 16, 1939 INVENTOR.

fig seppqf'i msuzj.

4 ATTORNEY Patented June 15, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEASURINGTAPE Giuseppe F. Pinsuti, New York, N. Y.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No. 273,843, May 16, 1939. Thisapplication July 4, 1944, Serial No. 543,456

13 Claims. (Cl. 332) This invention relates to measuring tapes andparticularly to those of the type used for taking measurements of thebody of a person for the purpose of making or fitting clothes. I

The application is refiled for forfeited application Serial No. 273,843,filed May 16, 1939, for Measuring tape, and now abandoned.

In using flexible measuring tapes of the type now commonly employed fortaking body measurements, the fitter holds the tape at the zero end,with one hand against the body of the person to be fitted and uses hisother hand to obtain the required measurement.

Frequently, the person fitted is embarrassed by the contact of thefitters hand. Furthermore, being compelled to hold the tape at its zeroend. said end of the tape is concealed by the fitter and frequently isnot properly arranged at the exact initial point of the length to bemeasured. Furthermore, when taking measurements under the arm of aperson or at the crotch, the necessity for locating the zero end of thetape at a reentrant portion of the body not only causes embarrassmentbut frequently results in inaccurate measurements. In takingcircumferential measurements as around the bust, neck, thigh, or otherbody parts, in view of the necessity of holding the zero end of the tapeand thereby concealing it, such circumferential measurements arefrequently inaccurate. I

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of a tape providedwith a projecting handle designed to be gripped by the user's hand andarranged preferably at the zero end of the tape, by means of whichhandle said zero end may be manipulated to bring it into corners orreentrant parts of the body, such as the arm or crotch, and thereby toarrange the zero point at the exact initial point of measurement withoutdifficulty while maintaining said zero end of the tape completelyvisible.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a tape provided withmeans for manipulating the tape from a point spaced therefrom wherebythe necessity for direct contact with any part of the body of the personto be fitted is entirely avoided.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a tape provided witha simple and inexpensive handle portion extending transversely of thetape preferably at the zero end thereof and preferably at right anglesto the tape whereby the tape may be easily manipulated to obtainaccurate measurements.

My invention further contemplates the pro- 2 vision of a tape handleprovided with a space for the reception of an intermediate portion ofthe tape so that said tape may be used in taking circumferentialmeasurements accurately and without the necessity for touching orconcealing the zero end of the tape,

The various objects of the invention will be clear from the descriptionwhich follows and from the drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new tape as it appears in use fortaking both linear measurements as at the shoulder, or circumferentialmeasurements as at the bust.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of one form of mi invention showingthehandle made of wire.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of another modified.

form of the invention.

with and a pencil or the like is utilized for the tion of the tape.

In the practical embodiment of the invention which I have shown by wayof example, and referring particularly to Fig. 2, the tape I0 isprovided with a metallic end member as I2 preferably of sheet metal,extending across the entire width of the tape and folded on itself toprovide two thicknesses between which the end of the tape is secured.The folded edge I3 of the member l2 provides the zero edge of the tape.The folded thicknesses and the tape end are held by the rivet M or othersuitable fastening member. Inserted between the thicknesses of themember I2 beyond the rivet and against the edge I3 is the upper endportion I 6 of the handle IS. A depending member as I! extendsintegrally from the portion l6, being joined thereto as by means of thebend l8 to provide a space 2| therebetween closed at its top by the bendl8, said space being designed for the reception of an intermediateportion of the tape when it is desired, for example, to takecircumferential measurments. Extending from the portion l 6 is thelooped hand grip portion IS, the free end 20 of which may be Welded toan adjacent part of said portion l9 or twisted thereabout in a mannerwhich can be readily understood and need not be further described norillustrated.

In use, as shown in Fig. 1, th zero edge B of the tape is arranged atthe initial point of measurement as 22, the tape being manipulated bythe hand grip portion is and the tape extended to the second point 23 tobe measured, the measurement being read on the tape.

To use the tape to take circumferential meas urements, the handleportion [9, is-grasped by one hand of the fitter and the tapepassed'around the body, the intermediate portion 24 of the tape beinginserted upwardly into the space 25 through the open lower end thereofand against the bend M. The tape is then bent around the member tfi andthe indication thereon adjacent the-edgedfiis read giving the exactcircumferential measurement without the necessity.,ofeconcealingz-thezero end of the tape or of: touching -the- -bddy.

Referring to Fig. 3, I have there shown a wire handle M, insertedthrough the looped end portion 42 of the tape I 0, one extremity 43 ofthe handle i be n bent 1 downward y n o e f .ofthetapeWhiletheotherextrernity M is bent outwardly .of the tape to,,provide the spacedclosedlatitsbottorn. ,Atfits l wer .end. th part i44 ,.is.,pr.eferab1y .hent linwardly t ward th jacent part of the handleas atjtfi; thereby *closi-ng .thebottomof the aceif the point Mibein weded twisted r otherwi su abl .v s cure to the handle. Theloopedendportion42.:of' the tapeimay ,be,,secured, if desired, in any,suitable irlhrlllerv as by. the stitching.

'IBeferring,,now tQ "E g. fl fI have there shown a simple means inthegf-orm of the hO0k35' "fOI holding the end of the tape, and"fora1s0ff0rming auslot, for the .reception of an intermediate ,part -Qfthegtape a pencil gr thedike'tfi serving as a handle. The threaded'lower.end,31 of the hooki screwed into the pencil after being passed gthroilhithe, o1o"- 28 of the tapegnheld by stitching asin'Fig. 3. It will; beunderstood that "the hoqkgbartizii is .para1le1: to" the zero edge and"to 'the"handle"36,'there being a space 'slltherebetween in to which anintermediate part of the tapemay ;be brought, when takng-circumferential measurements. This form' of the; invention providesa'sirnple; extremely inexpensivebut efficient handle.

.In Fig. 5, I have shown a somewhat modified form of the-handle, similanhowever, to thdhandle shown inf-Fig. 2. In-thisiformwftheinvention; theend of the'handle-is-welded as-atf2fi to the remaindeli ofthei hanid-letoform' a loop; 21 arranged .inaplane at substantially right angles tothe. planepassing through the parts .16," l1.- .and !8. Elle han le.may, therefore, be; turned so. thatihermr 1 hi inlfront o th tap Whi e.,the-,,1 Qp -Zl remains. .in substantially .the same ganeral plane. as(the. tape, torreasy manipulation.

It. .will. be noted that. in .all the :formspfj the invention, a spacev.is provided, which, is.,.closed It .will further be seen that .;byproviding, a

-, transversely extending thand-le ,on the tape, 2vit becomesunnecessary for. ,the user to .touch, an hart-of the bodyafi h person .t.b ..measured .but,tliatthe zeroiend is yisibleiatwall .timesand may. beplacedat aexactly. the right ipositionnas at the crotch, armpit,ore,othenreentrantepor- -ti0ns ofthe .bodyrwithout ,physicalcontact of,the

fingers of the user with the body and that accurate measurements maythereby be taken. The handle furthermore forms a convenient support bymeans of which the tape can be handled, hung up or on which it may bewound when not in use.

Consequently, it will be seen that I have provided, simple andeificient, device for manipuy-lating a/tape well designed to meet thesevere requirements of practical use.

. While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I do not ..;wish.,to be understood as limiting myself theretobut,.,intend to.,claim the invention as broadly as may" be permitted bythe state of the prior art and the soopewf: the appended claims.

Lclaim:

l.1In-..a 1handle,;for a measuring tape, a metal ieet "of twothicknesses of material having an integral end fold and having parallelstraight edges, a wire member having a straight part arranged-betweensaidthicknesses-and at the fold, said-"straight part continuingtransversely of the sheet-pastthe -f old afldistance at least fivetimesthe width of the sheet and term-inatingat lone endin a-bend, a' -handle-part ex-tending from the bendon one side of the-straight part and incontact therewith and with-the sheet-at itsen'd, a second bendat thectherend of the straight part immediately adjacent :anedge of the-sheet:and extending to t-he-other-side of the straight part and a free end-part exteriding from the second "bend toward the first-bend: andinspaced relation to the straight part and providing-"aspacethere--between -of-less =Wiiil7h than the \width of ithe sheet.

-2."I-n' a-handle for a measuring tape, agmetal "sheet-pf twothicknesses of --material' havingan integral end 1 foldand havingparallel .straight edges-a wire member havingstraight part betweensaidthicknessesand-arranged at the fold, said "wire member'having'a bendof substantially 189" adjacent the fold at the end of the. straight partand immediately adjacent an edge of r the foldedsheet, a'free end parton the wiremember substantially parallel to the straight ---part andspaced therefrom adista-nce lessthan' thewidth "ofgthe folded sheetto-provide a passage between the" foldand --said free end part guardedat the top and at-bothsides, -and-a--hand grip portion on the straightpart of the wire member extending perpendicularly tothe edgesof thefolded sheet and having a'length substantially greater than the'width ofsaid sheet and tape-securingmeans on the sheet, the handgrip portionancl the hand oi-the user being in transverse spaced relation to thefolded sheet-Whenthe handle is in use, and the'fold'of the sheetconstituting a zero "determining end edge movable into measuringposition on movement of the hand gripportion in adirection perpendicularto its length.

3. Ahandle for a tape, said handle being of:a single-length ofwire,abend-of more than 180 atone end part of the handle, a-pair ofcontinuous uninterrupted arms converging into contact with each otherandadapted to-fit into the hand of the user extending fromthe-respective ends of the. bend throughout the lengthof the-handleexcept its other end part,.each of said armshaving ajiree, endtpartterminating, at substantially the same distancerirom the bend, thefreeend part of one arm being bent into transverse spaced relationto thefree endpart of the other' arm to provide an elongated passagetherebetween guarded at. oneendan i bot idesjio t "s able passagethere'through of an intermediate part 5 of a tape, andtape-holdingmean-s on the free end part of one of said arms.

4. In a measuring tape, a sheet doubled on itself to form a fold, arivet passing through the sheet and adapted to pass through the tape topivotally secure the sheet to the tape, with the fold at the zero endedge of the tape, a, handle comprising a length of wire passing betweenthe doubled parts of the sheet adjacent the fold, the longitudinalcenter line of said handle being parallel to and on one side of thefold, one end part of said length of wire being elongated and ofsufficient extent to fit into and to be grasped by the hand of the userand being in lengthat least five times the width of the sheet, and abent portion on the other end of said length, said bent portion beingarranged on the other side of the fold and in outward spaced relation tothe fold of the sheet a distance substantially equal to the width ofsaid portion and providing a space therebetween closed at one end and atboth sides for the reception of an intermediate portion of the tape whenthe handle is used for taking circumferential measurements, and saidelongated end part when grasped by the hand being out of the way of thetape and out of contact with the person to be measured when the handleis used in taking crotch measurements and circumferential measurements.

5. In a handle for a measuring tape provided with a part folded back onitself and having a fold line at the zero end of the tape, asubstantially straight member arranged between the thicknesses of thefolded part and in permanent contact with and fixed against movementrelatively to the fold of said part, a depending member substantiallyparallel to said straight member and spaced therefrom in the directionlongitudinal of the tape a distance not substantially greater than thethickness of said depending member to form a tape receiving passagetherebetween open at one end, said fold line being arranged in thepassage, a connecting member integral with the straight member and thedepending member and joining said members, said connecting memberguarding 'one end of said passage, the tape being insertable into thepassage through the open end of the passage by a movement in thedirection substantially parallel to said straight member, and a. handgrip member on the straight member at the folded part and extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to the edges of the folded part of thetape throughout the length of said hand grip member and having a lengthsufficient to fit into and to extend across the palm of the hand, thestraight member being adapted to be manipulated by the hand grip memberinto contact with the person to be measured while said hand grip membermaintains the hand of the measurer out of contact with the person, andan intermediate portion of the tape being insertable into said passageand tensioned to read circumferential measurements on the tapeimmediately adjacent the edge of said folded part.

6. In a measuring tape having a part at the end thereof folded back onitself to provide a fold line at the zero end of the tape, asubstantially U-shaped member of substantially uniform cross sectionalsize and shape throughout, having substantially parallel legs integrallyconnected by a connecting part arranged transversely of the legs, one ofthe legs passing between the thicknesses of the folded part at the endof the tape while the other leg is maintained by the connecting part inspaced relation to said one leg, and a hand 7. In a measuring tapehaving a, part folded back on itself to provide a f01d line at the zeroend of the tape, an elongated handle having a zero determining portionthereon passin through the folded end part of the tape in the directionof the fold of said end part, said zero determining portion having anintegral transversely arranged portion continuing in one direction pastsaid fold and terminating in a depending portion parallel to said zerodetermining portion to form a substantially U-shaped member ofsubstantially uniform cross sectional size and shape, the remainder ofsaid handle extending in the same direction as said zero determining anddepending portions, the distance between said portions being notsubstantially greater than the thickness of the respective portions.

8. In a handle for a measuring tape, a hook of a length of wire having auniform circular cross sectional shape and size, said hook havingsubstantially parallel legs spaced apart a distance substantially thatof the diameter of the wire and having a bend in the wire extendingbetween the legs, one of the legs being longer than the other andterminating in an elongated and relatively narrow handle extensionextending generally in the same direction as the longer leg.

9. In a handle for a measuring tape according to claim 8 in which thetape is provided with an end part folded back on itself to form a foldof at least two thicknesses of material and a fold line at the zero endof the tape, the arrangement of the longer leg of the hook between thetwo thicknesses and passing completely through the fold.

10. In a handle for a measuring tape which is provided with an end partfolded back on itself to form an end fold of at least two thicknesses ofmaterial at one end of the tape and a fold line at the zero end of thetape, a member of round wire having a first straight part arranged inthe direction of the fold between said thicknesses and at the fold, saidstraight part continuing substantially in the direction of the fold linepast the fold and terminating in an elongated and relatively narrowhandle arranged in the same direction as the straight part, a secondstraight part substantially parallel to the first straight part andspaced therefrom a distance approximately that of the diameter of thewire, and a bend integral with and joining said straight parts andarranged transversely beyond the fold line.

11. In a, handle for a measuring tape which is provided with an end partfolded back on itself and secured to form an integral fold of at leasttwo thicknesses of material and having a fold line at the zero end ofthe tape, a generally U- shaped length of round wire having a pair ofparallel legs joined by an integral bend arranged transversely beyondand on one side of the fold line, one of said legs being longer than theother and being arranged between the thicknesses of said end part andextending past said thicknesses on the other side of the fold line, andan elongated and relatively narrow hand grip part secured to the longerleg on said other side of the fold line and extending in the samegeneral direction as said longer leg.

12. A handle for a measuring tape according to claim 11 in which thehand grip part is of a separate piece from the wire and of approximately

